A major demonstration unfolded in Byndoor as agitated farmers from Heranjalu, Halageri, and Noojadi villages rallied to demand the immediate shifting of the jackwell linked to the Heranjalu Gude Devasthan lift irrigation scheme. Spearheaded by the Sri Gude Devasthan Lift Irrigation Affected Farmers’ Association, the protest unfolded outside the Byndoor taluk office on Friday.
The cultivators voiced strong resentment over the alleged tampering of the original irrigation blueprint, which they claim has harmed agricultural prospects in the region. They accused officials of altering the plan to suit contractors’ preferences, thereby neglecting the welfare of local farmers.
Addressing the gathering, S. Prakashchandra Shetty, President of the District Farmers’ Union (Khambadakone Zone), said the current layout of vented dams provides no practical benefit. He condemned the ₹72 crore lift irrigation and ₹56 crore vented dam projects, arguing that these have disrupted farming and destroyed acres of groundnut fields due to flawed engineering and a poorly planned 3 km embankment.
He further alleged that criticism of these projects is met with repression and warned that Byndoor must not descend into mismanagement like Bellary. “Those accountable for this injustice must be held answerable,” he demanded.
Before the protest, villagers marched from the Seneshwara Temple to the administrative office, culminating in a memorandum submission to the Chief Minister through Tahsildar Bhimsen Kulkarni.
Farmer leaders including Deepak Kumar Shetty, Jayanthi Aital, Udaya Kumar Shetty, and others stood in solidarity, urging swift remedial action.
Read also: